Petulant ✔︎

17

He wasn't sure if everything was going to be alright. Sigrún tried to help everyone, especially Halfdan and Hvitserk. While Hvitserk joked around with the arrow in his arm, Gorm knew he was in pain. He left right after that. He was too busy trying to hunt down Frode. Not that the prince got far since he was badly beaten. He crawled a few meters before his arms gave out, and he fell unconscious. When he finally dragged him back, Irvina was still in a bloody dress, her hand over her mouth. She stared wordlessly at Halfdan, whose hand was lathered in some leaves.

The whole room turned towards him, and he pushed Frode before Irvina. The little prince blinked as he regained conscious with the fall. Irvina looked at Frode wordlessly. She gave Gorm a nod. His eyes focused on her dead expression. She turned to one of the slaves, "Bring my father. He should be there to see what happens to his son." The slave girl nodded and turned around. She hurried away, but not before Gorm caught the frightened expression. It seemed that his Queen frightened everyone.

"Only four men were found as those who helped, Erik, those who let his men inside," Gorm filled the tense silence. Ivar nodded in agreement since he was the one that helped to hunt him down.

Irvina was still looking at Halfdan, her fingers over her mouth, "Cut off three of their fingers." Gorm exhaled, maybe his Queen was still going to be merciful towards Frode. He hoped so. Gorm wasn't sure if he could look Gunnar in the eye if he had to kill his brother.

"Why not kill them?" It was Ivar who spoke the question, probably the whole room thought. He could see Ubbe give him an exasperated look, and Bjorn groaned.

Irvina gave him a pointed look, "Do it before everyone." It seemed that even Ivar thought better than to question her. He nodded towards Bjorn, who nodded back. The two left the room, leaving the heavy silence behind.

Her eyes focused on Hvitserk, "Everything fine?" Hvitserk nodded, but his Queen gave a pointed look at Sigrún, "Both of them will be fine. Maybe it will be harder to wield a sword, but a light axe should be fine in time." Irvina nodded at her gratefully. Hvitserk gave her a grin, "See, everything's fine. Tyr always stands with my brothers to deliver justice." Irvina raised a brow at him.

"Call the whole town, I want everyone to see," she commanded to Gorm. He nodded, giving Frode a fleeting look. The prince still hadn't picked himself up from the ground. He was laying there only blinking.

He turned to the Volva, "Will you check on Gunnar?" Sigrún nodded, not even needing the directions. She probably already knew all about it. Which made him question if she already knew about the attack and chose to omit the truth. Gorm grimaced once Halfdan enveloped Irvina into his arms. It seemed as if the whole room exhaled in relief once Irvina relaxed into the embrace. He turned away. He didn't want to see such intimate moments. Gorm's eyes once more found Frode. He hoped that Gunnar would stay out of this because he wasn't sure if he would be able to comply with the Queen's command if it was against his lover.